Chapter 505

He could tell that the ship was a Dao artifact, and not an ordinary one—it was at least a mid-grade Dao artifact; clearly, the Imperial Family's Elder Council had brought this mid-grade Dao artifact to guard against disturbances from the Underground Demons.

The Underground World has always been the domain of the Underground Demons, among whom there are cultivators who have reached the Longevity Secret Realm, commanding countless experts of the Divine Ability Secret Realm.

To find treasure underground, one must proceed with extreme caution, guarding against the Underground Demons claiming their share.

But guarding against the Underground Demons was the Great Xuan Empire's concern; Fang Yu merely followed the crowd forward. After flying for several hours, a vast plain far ahead split open into a massive fissure, as if a primordial giant had opened its mouth.

The Imperial Elder Council's vessel descended first, and hundreds of imperial clan members immediately followed, their sword lights and magic treasure auras illuminating the underground.

This torrent of power descending would force even the ancient titans of the Longevity Secret Realm to evade.

Many imperial clan members seemed already familiar with such expeditions, showing no panic—they clearly occurred frequently in the Great Xuan Empire, first to display martial might and acquire wealth, second to train and determine which Imperial Prince possessed the greatest celestial fortune, luck, and strength.

After reaching the underground, the space remained vast, and within it stood a cavernous entrance thirty meters tall, as if passing through it would lead to an ancient ruin.

"This training exercise will take place within the ancient ruin. Once you enter, seek out magic treasures and opportunities. Return within twelve hours. Remember: proceed with caution."

"Yes!"

Prince Yi marched forward immediately, and Fang Yu followed behind him; not far from Fang Yu, the Thirteenth Imperial Prince, Prince Zhan, entered the ruin along with his several Great Gods.

Then, more Imperial Princes entered the ruin, seeking advantage.

"I wonder what kind of celestial fortune these Imperial Princes will encounter within this ruin?"

Seeing all the Imperial Princes enter, one Imperial Clan Elder spoke: "The things within this ruin are extremely dangerous—they seem utterly incompatible with the aura of Immortal Dao. The one who discovered this ruin died without warning."

"It resembles a barbarian divine temple, with a cursed aura? But I sense that the curse's power, after countless eons, has greatly faded; otherwise, these Imperial Princes would never be allowed to enter and explore."

"It can't be as dangerous as a barbarian divine temple, but there's still some danger—let's see which of these Imperial Princes gains the most fortune and celestial luck."

Several Elders discussed among themselves.

At this moment, Fang Yu and the others had entered over thirty miles into the massive cavern, and Fang Yu sensed a peculiar Dao rhythm flowing around him, constantly attempting to invade his body and launch inexplicable attacks.

His flesh and even his spirit were continuously eroded by a strange force.

But as he merely thought, the Great Five Elements Art, Great Star Art, Great Cutting Art, and Great Devouring Art—these great divine arts—flowed through his body, instantly creating a sense of firm stability, suppressing all around him; especially the power of the Great Five Elements Art, which could truly suppress everything.

What strange force could penetrate the ten Imperial Sovereigns within Fang Yu's body and affect him?

Of course, the Great Star Art had a similar effect—the countless starlight streams of the Book of Infinite Stars formed a boundless state, circulating to purify and calm his surroundings.

Meanwhile, when the Great Devouring Art activated, it offered similar benefits—this great art directly devoured, forming a black hole capable of digesting everything: any strangeness, ill omen, all swallowed and transformed into his own power.

Of course, beyond these, the power of Thunder also flowed through every part of his body, completely purifying those strange forces.

Fang Yu had cultivated ninety-nine divine arts, and among them, five were supreme Thunder arts; now, as they unleashed their power, they annihilated all strangeness.

Thus, Fang Yu grew calm again within this space, but he sensed that ahead, dense clusters of those things lay everywhere.

Curse?

Two words rose in Fang Yu's mind.

"Fang Qingxue, have you sensed it? There's something strange here."

Prince Yi also seemed to sense something; his eyes flashed, and a surge of intent erupted—on his forehead appeared a sword-shaped symbol, then his surroundings rippled, forming ten thousand twisted air blades that assembled into an ultimate killing sword array, seemingly isolating himself from the surrounding strange aura.

Facing the pervasive strange aura, Prince Yi directly unleashed his ultimate technique, his signature move: the Ten Thousand Swords Array, each blade a magic treasure sword, the legendary "Ten Thousand Immortal Invisible Swords."

This sword array, composed of ten thousand blades, was forged by ancient Immortals—invisible and intangible, once the ultimate technique of the ancient Jian Sect, Wuxingjian Sect.

In ancient times, the Jian Sect, Wuxingjian Sect, had every disciple specialize in forging flying sword arrays, their sword-craft unique, invisible and traceless, unmatched under heaven.

Just now, Prince Yi had instantly manifested an array of ten thousand magic treasure swords—its power far exceeding Fang Yu's Yan Yue Sword Array, even surpassing ordinary low-grade Dao artifacts.

Ants can kill an elephant; a formation of ten thousand magic treasure swords was indeed formidable.

Once he unleashed this ultimate killing sword array, Prince Yi felt considerably more at ease, then turned to gaze at the scenery ahead.

"There's definitely something strange here—it seems connected to the legends of curses. The treasures here won't be easy to obtain."

Fang Yu spoke.

The two continued forward and saw eight portals ahead, each portal bearing a mirror covered in verdigris.

"Are those the magic treasures of this ancient ruin?!"

Prince Zhan's voice grew excited; he had already unleashed his Jin Dan, whose golden core radiated divine arts light to combat the pervasive strange aura in the void.

Now seeing the verdigris mirrors nearby, he moved to seize one, but hesitated, glancing at the several black-robed men beside him.

"Mr. Daxia, I've heard you're among the finest hermits from beyond the seas—why don't you retrieve this mirror for me?"

Prince Zhan remained where he stood, addressing the black-robed man he had recruited.

"Of course—if His Highness commands it, I shall certainly seize this mirror for you!"

The black-robed man named Mr. Daxia's eyes revealed utter coldness, but the coldness vanished instantly; he stepped forward and activated a divine art.

Many Xu Yuan Qi coalesced into a giant hand, its nine fingers each adorned with intricate, mysterious patterns, radiating an air of nobility.

That noble giant hand reached directly for the distant mirror.

At that moment, countless strange Dao patterns attacked the hand, yet Mr. Daxia remained calm and composed—the Xu Yuan Qi hand truly grasped the mirror and drew it back.

"I have not failed my mission!"

Mr. Daxia delivered the copper mirror.

"Hmm?"

All of them watched Mr. Daxia for any change, but after a moment, they saw no alteration in him whatsoever.

Prince Zhan burst into laughter.

"Excellent! I shall credit this achievement to Mr. Daxia. When I acquire more treasures, your reward will not be lacking."

"Mr. Daxia's divine art is astonishing!"

Even Prince Yi was curious—he had not expected Mr. Daxia to possess such ability.

He could clearly sense that the copper mirror carried far stronger strangeness than the ambient aura; no ordinary person could have seized it, yet Mr. Daxia had done so effortlessly.

It was truly unbelievable.

"A trivial matter, unworthy of mention. But Prince Yi, might your companion here also retrieve a few of these treasure mirrors for His Highness?"

That Great Xia Mr.'s gaze was distant as he spoke to Fang Yu.

"This…"

Prince Yi seemed unprepared that this Great Xia Mr. had turned his spear against the Yuqing Daoist beside him.

"Jiejie, I'll take the treasures when I choose—I won't let you tell me how to act! Next time you dare interfere, I'll kill you all first, then take the treasures!"

Fang Yu let out a jiejie sound at once, as if he would strike down Prince Zhan's attendants in the next instant.

He now played the role of a demonic cultivator with increasing ease.

A demonic cultivator, a demonic cultivator—must be capricious, prone to killing at the slightest provocation.

Now these attendants of Prince Zhan dared to instruct him—so killing them fit perfectly with the identity of a demonic cultivator.

After all, he was going to strike soon anyway.

"Yuqing Daoist, calm yourself. The benefits within this Secret Realm belong to the virtuous. If you claim them, I will not forcibly take them."

Prince Yi spoke, sensing the Yuqing Daoist's genuine intent to kill—he urgently tried to dissuade him.

"Prince Zhan, properly discipline your attendants. Don't let them forget their station."

Fang Yu merely let out a cold snort, then stepped forward, his body shifting instantly to stand before a bronze mirror, extending his Dark Yellow Shrouding Heaven Hand to seize it outright.

Then, Fang Yu stepped repeatedly through empty space—in the blink of an eye, he had collected all seven remaining bronze mirrors.

Countless ill omens and eerie forces erupted from the mirrors, yet before the Dark Yellow Mother Qi Root, they were utterly powerless.

The Dark Yellow Mother Qi Root, of course, was invulnerable to all arts; after Fang Yu refined it into this Dark Yellow Shrouding Heaven Hand within the Shrouding Heaven Realm, taking these treasures posed no difficulty.

"What?"

"Damn it!"

"He can also take these mirrors? How? Only we know these bronze mirrors contain cursed runes—excellent material for cultivating the Great Cursing Art. With them, I could elevate my Great Cursing Art to profound heights—yet he took them all!"

At this moment, the black-robed figures all felt intense killing intent surge within them—they longed to strike down Fang Yu immediately.

Others could not perceive the mirrors' mystery, but as experts of the Divine Clan who had reached the Divine King realm, they were well-versed—they themselves cultivated the Great Cursing Art among the Three Thousand Great Dao, and could suppress the cursed runes within the mirrors.

Originally, with these eight mirrors, they could have used the cursed runes to elevate their Great Cursing Art to a higher realm—but now, the mirror they had collected was handed to Prince Zhan, and the remaining seven had been taken by the Yuqing Daoist.

It was simply too infuriating.

They must find an opportunity to kill him!

"Yuqing Daoist, your abilities are formidable."

The black-robed figures' killing intent churned, yet even Prince Yi felt disbelief—his gaze fixed on the seven bronze mirrors in Fang Yu's hands, filled with shock.

"The Prince is right—the treasures belong to the virtuous. It seems I am the virtuous one. Then I shall not refuse."

Fang Yu let out a jiejie laugh.

"... Indeed, indeed."

Prince Yi knew the seven mirrors were lost to this demonic cultivator—they would never be recovered. Better to press forward and seek other treasures.